Chapter Fifteen: The Stranger - Mason

"You may never understand how the stranger is inspired. But he isn't always evil, and he is not always wrong. Though you drown in good intentions, you will never quench the fire. You'll give in to your desire, when the stranger comes along" - The Stranger (Billy Joel)

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

The house was in massive disrepair and would need months of work, which wasn't what was bothering me. It was the fact I had inadvertently moved to a town occupied by a coven. I had no information on them, save for the fact there were at least seven members. I could count on one hand covens larger than three vampires, and only one rumored to live in this area. Had I finally come across the famous Carlisle Cullen? It was a tantalizing prospect to connect with other vampires with similar values, but I wasn't sure I wanted to interfere with their lives.

I set out wandering the town with the hope I might run into them, and found to my surprise their scents were focused only on the school and almost nowhere else. Instead I spent several hours walking and observing the people as they went about their lives. It was all very human, living in a rural small town without many amenities. I received a few stray looks, but most minded their business.

As night fell I took a turn in the residential part of town, to listen in on the quiet conversations of these simple residents to get a feel for the underside of things. Most people rarely showed their true faces in public, and it was easier to get a grasp on what they were really like as they went about their private lives. It was a calming experience, and I would've happily gone home and never thought about the town again if I hadn't heard the voice.

Singers came and went, I had heard some of the greatest voices of all time throughout the years. But this voice was different, it immediately drew my attention and captivated me. I was standing mesmerized across the street of a random house, listening to her sing as though it were the most important moment of my life.

"...Because a vision softly creeping, left its seeds while I was sleeping. And the vision that was planted in my brain, still remains. Within the sound of silence…"

Then she stopped and moved towards the window. I hesitated, almost desperate to see the face attached to that voice. It was but a glimpse, but it was the face of a teenager. Her beautiful kind eyes searched the street for something, and briefly focused on the spot I was standing. It was so peculiar, had she somehow felt my presence?

I wanted to move towards her, perhaps strike a dialogue. But it was a reckless impulse, which I quickly squashed. In the next instant I ran from her, and back to my dilapidated home where I began the slow painful process of rebuilding.

Sunday, June 12, 2005

Progress on the house had been slower than expected. Sourcing parts became an arduous process requiring repeated trips to Port Angeles and Seattle. After months working on the project I needed a break, so I put on a suit fit for Sunday church and headed into town on foot. It was a beautiful day, sunny with a sun high in the sky. It was on days like this that I was happy I was somewhat different from most of my kind. Still I kept to shaded areas as much as possible, I didn't want to draw too much attention.

While I consciously tried to avoid that part of town where I saw her, the face that had been haunting me for months, my feet seemed to have a mind of their own. By mid-morning I found myself walking past her house again, and inside I heard the tail end of an argument.

"A crisis of faith is common, you just need time. Come, pray and you will find your way." The male voice sounded authoritative, perhaps her father. Although I couldn't be sure from the safe distance I had hidden myself. I felt silly and perhaps a bit juvenile, but I just wanted to see her again. It would give me something tangible, then perhaps much later when she was an adult I could approach her. No, that was another reckless thought. She was mortal, that kind of relationship had never gone well in the past. Yet I couldn't seem to force myself to move again, waiting to hear her reaction, if it was who this father figure was talking to.

"You don't get it, I can't go because I cannot put my faith in a god that would do that to Bella!" She was shouting, her anger and sadness coming through clearly in her voice.

"Angela." He called after her as she burst through the front door at a sprint. She was halfway down the block before I started after her, oddly worried. Yet now I had a name to go with the face, and it made me feel… lighter. Her name was appropriate, an Angel. I stopped and shook my head in disappointment with myself. I was obsessing over someone for no reason. She was an innocent, a teenager. I couldn't in good conscience interfere with her life.

I almost turned towards home, but a part of me wanted to check on her so I continued on despite my internal struggle. I found her five blocks down, most of the way into town, sitting against the side of a house with her eyes closed and tears staining her cheeks.

"You alright there?" I asked tentatively. She looked up, and put a hand above her eyes to try and shield them from the bright sun beating down on us. She squinted at me, as though she were trying to see me more clearly.

Then she shook her head slightly. "I'll be fine." I nodded a couple of times with a quick bob of my head and walked away from her. Hoping against hope that I wouldn't give into the selfish impulses that made me seek her out in the first place.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

The local paper was usually fairly light, some minor stories involving the city council initiatives for the high-school and some minor crimes. It had a section that covered broader news from around the country and specifically Seattle. I always read through it in the morning, it made for a nice start to the day. Yet on this random Tuesday there was an obituary that caught my eye.

Isabella (Bella) Marie Swan, born September 13, 1987 - September 12, 2005

"Bella." I heard myself say out loud. I read further, and found it detailed a horrific accident a year before as the primary cause of her death after complications from an experimental surgery performed by Doctor Carlisle Cullen.

I didn't even hesitate, racing towards Angela's house without thought or reason. I needed to know if she was alright, because anyone having a crisis of faith over a friend would be devastated by that friend's death. I wasn't thinking about what I could do, just the impulse to check on her, to make sure she wasn't broken with grief.

As I arrived at my previous hiding place across the street and listened, I found the house was beginning to stir but was quiet and somber. Barely a word was spoken until a phone rang.

"It's Alice, I'm gonna take it upstairs." Angela said softly, and without any hint of joy.

"That's fine." A woman replied.

"Alice, what's going on?" Angela's tone had changed considerably, while she didn't sound happy she was clearly not in mourning.

"They are putting her through a wake, Edward is losing his mind." This Alice on the other end of the call was vampiric, of that I was sure.

"I can imagine, do you know if she's aware of what's going on?" Her response was almost a whisper, and if I wasn't mistaken there was more than a little fear in her voice. Of course the implication of the question was someone was pretending to be dead, perhaps this Isabella Swan.

"She's several hours into the change, so possibly. The pain will be blocking out a lot of things, but some of us remember hearing things as we transitioned." Alice's explanation was like a bombshell and I almost staggered back, this vampire was speaking freely about transition to a human.

"I'm so nervous, I'm not sure I'm a good enough actor to pull this off." Angela sounded deeply upset, and I could hear her voice shaking.

"When in doubt just act numb." Alice's tone was sympathetic despite the relatively flippant response.

"But I have to speak, Dad got me to agree to it." Angela was starting to sound panicked.

"I'll be there." Alice said reassuringly, and I could tell she genuinely cared. These vampires were clearly compassionate, even conversing to this degree with a human was uncommon. Caring for one enough to soothe their nerves was altogether different.

"Angela, we're almost ready!" The same woman's voice from before called out. Most likely Angela's mother.

"Alright, we're off to the viewing." Angela seemed to recover her confidence but the statement held an unspoken question, something implicit and hopeful.

"I wish I was going to be there with you, we've decided to watch from a distance, hopefully she doesn't enter the final phase early." Alice again sounded sympathetic, understanding what Angela was asking without explanation.

"That would be awkward." Angela's understated response was a clue that she didn't fully understand the nature of vampiric transformation. If this Bella awoke surrounded by a crowd of friends and family she would consume them before anyone could stop her. Likely killing at least one person she cared about during her human life, and possibly drawing the ire of the Volturi. Now I was nervous about this newborn transformation.

"That would be deadly." Alice warned. "I'm really not thrilled that we are letting her endure this but Carlisle and Edward have a plan." That gave me some relief, at least this Alice wasn't being reckless, or at least she was aware of the dangers.

"Can't you see what's coming?" The question altered everything, was this Alice the seer? I had heard rumors of a vampire with the gift of sight, a gift so powerful she could alter fate.

"Kind of, right now my visions are locked on tomorrow night, but don't worry about that. We'll make sure she calls you when possible." The statement was thrown out as if it were common to talk about future events as though they were details about a vague plan to have Saturday brunch.

"See you at the funeral then." Angela gave her a mildly bright send off, but Alice didn't immediately reply.

"I'm sorry we're putting you through this." The apology was so genuine and full of guilt that I wondered if Alice was the reason Angela knew the truth.

"I'm okay, I think. I'm still processing. Later Alice." This time it was final, and Angela ended the call. Then she muttered something to herself that I couldn't quite make out. I stood in relative shock as I watched the family leave the house dressed in mourning clothes, and head out towards town. It took a while to absorb the truth, this girl was already involved in the lives of vampires. Knowing Aro, this put her directly in the path towards becoming one of us, or dying as punishment by the hands of the Volturi guard. I didn't know what game these Cullens were playing, but it forced me to take action. As much as I didn't want to alert them to my presence, I felt I had no other choice.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Their house was lovely, well maintained and clearly a home. All the residents were gathered in the front sitting room waiting quietly. No conversation filled the silence, and there was a sense that they were waiting for something, or someone. This eerie calm and the fact that one of them could see the future made me realize I was the reason for that vision, it made me wonder what caused the series of events that brought me here.

"Fascinating." I whispered to myself as I closed the last few feet to their door.

I knocked firmly and when the door opened, I found myself confronted with a truly unusual sight, six mature vampires and a newborn all clean and dressed in fine clothes. Their expressions were curious yet guarded. The leader was at the center, his fair hair all but confirmed I had found the famous Carlisle Cullen. Thankfully this coven did not seem to be deferring to him as their absolute ruler. Best of all, beyond the newborn, they all had the eye color that marked them as abstaining from human blood.

"Good Evening. I imagine coming here is both random and unexpected. I am relatively new to the area and I would like to officially introduce myself. My name is Mason, and it is a great honor to meet all of you." I bowed my head slightly in respect, and then examined each of their faces as I waited for a reaction, finally lingering on the face of the newborn, Isabella Swan. The source of all the drama I had been worrying about was now standing in front of me with the composure of a vampire ten times her age.

"Why are you staring at her?" The bronze haired boy looked somewhat defensive of his obvious mate. His posture and position partially in front of her made it obvious. While jealousy and affection in our kind was common, any form of protectiveness was unusual.

"My apologies. I was just admiring this newborn's composure. I read about you yesterday, you are Isabella Swan?" All of them seemed momentarily agitated so I thought I would put their minds at ease.

"Yes." She answered almost defiantly, stepping in front of her mate as though she needed no protection, also while keeping physical distance from him. Perhaps they were not mates after all.

"One day out and you have the poise of a vampire many times your age." They all looked somewhat agitated, so I shook my head and raised a hand to ease their minds. "I have no intention of making an issue of it; I was only making an observation. At the very least I didn't mean to sound accusatory. I would very much like to start on the preverbal right foot, especially since there is no need to defend an induction. May I come in and get to know you better?" Nervous and antiquated, I knew I should've practiced my introduction.

"Please excuse my manners, come in." The blonde man in the center of his coven continued to act as their leader, or possibly the patriarch. They nearly all had his scent, perhaps all of them were his children. Save one exception, the small dark-haired woman. Yet even she seemed to be a firm part of this coven. Her story was something I knew I would want to investigate at some point down the road.

"You must be Carlisle?" I said laying my hand on the table as it were. His pleasant face hardened slightly, and I could see he was trying to make a connection that wasn't there.

"I believe we have a mutual acquaintance." I explained easily, while true it was touch misleading.

"Do we? Who might that be, and I'm assuming they told you about me? Would you care to enlighten us as to what they said?" He tried to be friendly, but his expression was still too hard.

"Aro. I must say you have amassed quite a coven here Carlisle. Aro was right to be impressed with you. In truth, we haven't spoken for centuries. I heard that you were beautiful and compassionate, and refused to give into the impulses of our kind." Dredging up Aro was painful, but necessary. It was impossible to think of my son in any positive way after his repeated betrayals. Yet this Carlisle could be the salvation I had been searching for.

"This is not my coven; they are my family." He paused and looked back at all of them before continuing. He had let me into the foyer, and then led me into a downstairs living area. The back wall was all window with a marvelous view of the forest and a nearby river. He stayed between me and his coven, his emotional connection to them was almost physical. Family did seem like a proper description, but I had to be sure.

"You know Aro?" His question seemed almost accusatory, and I couldn't blame him. Aro was likely the most famous of all vampires in the world, save for Caius, Marcus, Alec and Jane.

"He was important to me once. Although not anymore, I don't hold the same values as the Volturi, and I despise their methods." Carlisle nodded at me in agreement, and then his face soured as he puzzled over my statement.

"We have been miserable hosts, please sit. We are all greatly intrigued by you." The woman standing by him offered me a chair. I took a seat in one of the stand-alone chairs which proved to be quite comfortable. Then I positioned myself so that none of them were behind me. Wary of an ambush or an attack, I extended my powers to search their intent, emotions, and gifts if any.

Much to my surprise, the first thing to hit me was a wave of goodness; there was no ill intent in any of their hearts. I let down my guard a little and sighed. But what impressed me more than their intentions, were their gifts. This family was extremely special. The Bronze haired boy had telepathy, and I could see in his mannerism he was using some form of physical language to speak to Carlisle. The smaller woman was the precognitive Alice, and the newborn Isabella had the most powerful mental shield I had ever seen. Yet, the latent powers of the rest of them also sparked my interest, all of which could be incredibly powerful if applied properly.

"Thank you, I haven't been around those I would consider kindred spirits in a long time." I gave them all a wide thankful smile and Carlisle nodded; the rest of the family separated out into distinct groups. Four pairing off as obvious couples, and three lingering near one another, but not tangled around each other. I glanced at the trio, the bronze haired boy, the tiny black-haired woman, and the newborn. All three were gifted. Yet there was something more, and I had to know why this family was so different. So reluctantly I tapped into the power of the telepath to get an impression of this... family.

'Aro never spoke of him. I wonder who he is.' Carlisle pondered.

'Why is he so different?' The large one, Emmett, thought, 'I wonder if I could take him if I needed to?'

'He seems too perfect, I wonder what he's hiding? Is he a threat? Could Emmett take him?' The blonde's caution spoke to her love of her family, but within the mind of the telepath he did not think of her as anything more than a shallow pool, clear anything but superficial thought. I sensed a rather deep well of love and compassion for those around her.

'His mind is blocked, why can't I read him? First Bella and now… am I losing my gift.' The copper haired boy questioned; his troubles came through in his dower expression. When I tried to focus on her I found out how powerful her shield was, and it nearly physically hurt when my mind bounced off it.

'Carlisle seems to like him, as long as he doesn't hurt my children, I can accept him.' The slightly older woman, Esme, was obviously the mother figure, and the emotions she expressed suddenly made me realize the true difference between this family and other covens. It was real love, not obsession or false affection, or even jealousy painted as love. Most of the time, the dark shades of emotions lingered from the remnants of our humanity. Those vestigial impulses carved deeply into the core of our kind. But this love they had for each other was full, vibrant, and powerful. Their bond was very much one of a true family. Still, as I felt myself take a deep sigh of relief, and draw my power from the telepath, until I caught a stray thought from Alice.

'He is exactly like I saw him; I hope he's a friend. I wonder if he will complicate the situation with the mutts, Bella is hard enough to explain. Now this stranger, I hope our treaty holds up' Involuntarily I went stiff, the implication was a treaty with werewolves in the area. I felt sick, and although I had already crossed too many lines, there was little choice. I had to know more about these beasts. I searched all of their memories using the telepath's power, pushing him harder than he had ever attempted to glean what information I could about these wolves. Eventually I stumbled upon the truth in Carlisle's mind.

The wolves were all part of a tribe called the Quileute that made their home near the ocean. Unlike the vicious Children of the Moon, these wolves derived their power from a form of ancient ancestry magic. No infection turned them into monsters. These were noble beasts, and it seemed their only goal was to protect their people. If I had encountered them alone, I would've hidden myself, now I was almost intrigued and determined to meet them, reminding me so much of the friend I had lost so long ago.

Then I noticed a deep underlying concern attached to these wolves. It was linked entirely to Bella, and her recent change. Digging deeper I found that their treaty stipulated that no human could be bitten by Carlisle's family. Not needing anything more, and already feeling guilty for pushing that far, I withdrew from the telepath's mind, and relinquished any control I had over his power.

"May I ask how long it has been since you've been around, kindred spirits?" Carlisle broke the short silence, nearly startling me. I smiled at him and thought about his question before continuing.

"Quite some time. I would prefer not to elaborate just yet; I don't like to dwell too much on my past. The memories are not pleasant for me." I smiled weakly and looked down at my hands. I could almost see the blood on them, centuries later and I could almost smell it.

"That's fair, I've had my share of painful memories." I could tell by the tone of his voice that he really did understand my feelings. I raised my eyes to meet his gaze and felt a connection to him. This place was more than familiar, in a strange way it had the feeling of home. Which was something I hadn't felt since Katherine's death. I needed to change the subject, so I forced it by bringing up a concern.

"You are all unique. I have never met a family like yours before. Even my own coven wasn't so close. I envy you in a way. You must be very tempting to the Volturi, because you are all so special. But I must ask the rest of you, is this a choice that each of you made? Or is the idea of forgoing your natural instincts an involuntary one? Has Carlisle influenced your feeding habits by force or coercion?" Carlisle seemed mortified, which answered my question without words. But each member of his family stepped forward in protest.

"He would never! Carlisle isn't like that!" Emmett's brash defense of his father spoke volumes about their connection.

"Emmett's right, we were all given a choice. And we all chose this lifestyle." Esme said, defending her mate and this family fervently.

"What about that young one?" I glanced at Bella. She raised an eyebrow and stepped forward.

"I already made the choice, and Carlisle never suggested it was anything but mine to make. Even without their influence I would never purposefully hurt anyone. If you're going to make accusations, then you should probably leave." She looked to the faces of her family for reassurance, and they all looked at her with pride. They were all so young, and so passionate. I felt an odd yet deep desire, no it was almost a painful need, to join this family.

"It was never my intention to accuse, only to acquire information. You see, I cannot stand by idly if a leader forces his people to do his bidding. No matter if their intentions are noble, choice is an absolute requirement to this existence. It is a right for which I have fought and nearly died." My voice turned solemn and serious.

"I think I understand. You are an ancient, aren't you?" Carlisle nodded, and I smiled at his intuition, although I worried I would need to be careful how much I told them.

"That is very perceptive Carlisle. If I may ask, would you introduce me to your family? I would very much like to meet them." I said choosing my words carefully, changing the subject.

"Very well, however, we would like to know more about you. Would you be willing to explain yourself a little, any information would be appreciated." I nodded slightly, and then he continued. "This is my wife Esme." His mate stepped up and wrapped a protective arm around Carlisle's waist.

"And this is my first son Edward." The telepathic nodded politely, although his gaze on me was still intense.

"I'm Emmett, and this is my wife Rosalie." The large one pulled the beautiful blonde into his arms, and she immediately rolled her eyes at him before turning and kissing him on the cheek.

"And I'm Alice, and this is Bella." Alice danced forward and held out a steady hand to me. I shook her hand and smiled at her kindly. She broke contact politely and quickly returned to Bella's side. Bella gave me a terse smile but didn't relax at all.

"It is a great pleasure to meet all of you. I guess I should explain my visit. But first, at your request, I'll explain myself a little. I apologize if I was evasive before, but I am more than acquainted with Aro. He is, in fact, my blood." I waited for their reactions. They seemed to take the information in stride, but their reserved expressions made me think they were repressing shock. Carlisle spoke up after a couple of seconds.

"I've never heard of one of our kind being so old. You don't look like an ancient. In fact, you don't even look like one of us." His question had merit and deserved an answer. But I wasn't sure how much to tell them. So, I nodded at him and thought about it carefully.

"I know I look quite a bit different from others who have reached a substantial age. But I attribute that to the fact that for a vast majority of my life I have fed exclusively off the blood of animals. My eyes, well that is a particular talent of mine, and it would be difficult to explain in full." I flashed my external power briefly revealing my golden eyes. They all looked content and a little startled.

"That is some trick." Carlisle looked at me thoughtfully but still apprehensive, I wasn't going to win them over in an evening.

"That was merely an extension of my gift. I don't mean to put you ill at ease. I am here for two reasons, but mainly to find a place of peace. I wish to live in this area perhaps permanently, and I need your blessing before fully settling in. In time I promise, when trust is gained on both sides, I will tell you my life story." I spoke from the heart and hoped that they understood my concerns and desires.

"Well then," Carlisle looked quickly around the room, meeting the eyes of each of his family. They all gave him an unspoken look. It wasn't hard to grasp that they were voting. It was a nice confirmation, to see that he wasn't their ruler at all. Even Bella seemed to understand and vote. "I see no reason to say no, you are welcome to make your home here Mason. I hope to get to know you better."

"Thank you for your gracious hospitality." I stood and walked casually over to Carlisle who had never sat down. He held out a hand, and I clasped it firmly. Then in a moment of monumental importance for me, he shook my hand cementing his acceptance.

"Out of curiosity, what is your second reason?" Carlisle asked before letting go of my hand. I pulled my hand from his and sighed slightly.

"That is a bit more tricky and uncomfortable to explain, perhaps another day." I wasn't sure why I slipped, I had no idea how I was going to explain Angela.

"I must insist." I frowned, and nodded. I thought about how I should explain, and ultimately the truth made the most sense.

"When I said relatively new, it was a bit of an evasion. I have been restoring a house in the area for about a year now. I had no intention of revealing myself, especially now that it was likely you would be moving on shortly due to the new induction into your family. However, there is a mortal in town that holds some importance to me and I've observed at least one of your family interacting with her, as well as a connection to your newborn."

"Angela!" Bella stated loudly, with more than a little shock.

"It is nothing untoward, I happened to encounter her last year and found her voice rather special. I haven't interfered with her life, and have only actively observed her a couple of times, specifically yesterday after discovering the news of your death." I motioned towards Bella, whose eyebrows raised.

"What interest do you have with her? She is under our protection." Carlisle said with a threatening tone of voice. I almost let a smile of satisfaction curl at my lips, it was clear from the body language of everyone in the family that this girl was important, that she was loved as a part of their family.

"To be honest I have no idea, although to be clear I feel the same and mean her no harm. I am an observer of human nature, and encountering her was unexpected." Carlisle nodded and looked back at the family.

"She's my best friend, and they brought her into our world for a number of reasons." Bella explained, although it was vague enough that I was compelled to ask further.

"What reason would you risk her life? This secret dooms her to either a life as one of us, or a young death." I spoke with more passion than I expected, and it made them all look at me with interest and confusion.

"She is absolutely trustworthy, and we plan to be separated from her as soon as she heads to college. Which would effectively conceal her knowledge." Esme explained, but that brought up further questions, mainly why?

"Will you continue to protect her from afar?" I started with the obvious.

"Absolutely." Bella said aggressively, the first sign of her status as a newborn vampire. I smiled at her, but wondered if her fierce devotion to her friend would last.

"I admire your compassion, but is that practical? I asked, and Carlisle nodded.

"We haven't worked out the logistics yet, this is new for us." His admission was a bit unexpected, but made the situation all the more dire.

"Logistics, quite. Sorry, I am worried for her." I let myself frown, I never wanted her to have to make the choice so young. Barely a woman and faced with monsters and the prospect of immortality, but given the apparent age of this family I could understand why they didn't see it the same way.

"I'm honestly not sure what to say, we do seem to have the same goal in her safety. Could we table any discussion of Angela until she is here to be a part of that conversation?" Carlisle's stance was commendable, but the idea of meeting her felt terrifying for reasons I couldn't quite parse.

"Perhaps." I hedged, hoping that this eventually was something I could avoid for a while. "Either way, I do not wish to overstay my welcome on a first visit." I stood and bowed to them again, and immediately made for the door.

"Can I walk you out?" The telepath offered. I looked at him knowing this would be an attempt to read my mind, but nodded and we left the house together.

"I live a few miles to the east; I'm rebuilding an abandoned house that has great bones." I smiled proudly, I was happy with my choice.

"The Westmoore house, yes. It has been sitting for far too long, it's good that you found a worthy project." Edward said, clearly trying to ingratiate himself with me.

"I assume you want to talk?" I asked and noted he was examining me with a critical eye. Perhaps trying to figure out why my eyes appeared human.

"I know you are still guarded about your life, and there is no way you could explain it all in a single evening anyway. But I need to know if you are a friend. Would it be an imposition to ask a few questions?" He spoke diplomatically, choosing his words carefully. I smiled in response.

"Not at all, I can understand the need to make sure your family is safe. Please ask anything you like." I wanted to appear as though I were an open book, while I was guarded about certain aspects of my past I had no wish to deceive him.

"You never fully explained your eyes. That flash could've been a show." He didn't sound accusatory, but I was a bit wary to show my power again.

"As I said before, it is difficult to explain. My gifts allow me to alter my body to a minor extent. This lets me hide for the most part. But if I use my powers directly, my eyes shift to their natural color, which is golden like yours. I could show you if you like." I explained, and he nodded with curiosity and a little apprehension.

"I will warn you it is a bit unusual; I've been called many things in the past but the nickname 'Dragon' was always the most appropriate." I extended my hand and turned my palm face up.

I began to conjure my fire. From lack of use it took a couple of seconds until it started to manifest. When it did, my skin rippled with unseen power, and a flash of light jumped up from the center and erupted into a golf ball sized sphere of flame that levitated a few inches from my skin. Edward gasped, his eyes wide with wonder. Then he looked into my eyes, and seemed satisfied with what he found. Feeling the pull of my power starting to drain me I smiled and extinguished the flame by closing my hand and withdrawing the power back inside of me.

"I hope that was sufficient. It is difficult to maintain a sphere that small. I tend to only use it when absolutely necessary." I didn't elaborate on the sensation of weakness I felt after displaying my power like that, or the feeling that it might run away from me. The idea of my power growing out of my control was a constant worry, and was the primary reason I rarely used it.

"I'm lost for words; you must feel very isolated to have such a gift." He was too perceptive, and I felt my face harden a little, but quickly forced a polite smile.

"You must feel the same. Telepathy is as much a burden as it is a gift." I said off hand, only after it was out did I realize my mistake. He stopped walking and glared at me.

"I never mentioned having a gift." Edward looked worried, and I couldn't blame him.

"No, but I can feel every gift of every vampire. Including yours, that's why I let down my guard. I appreciate your attempt to see into my mind again, but it will not happen unless I wish it." I gave him a small shrug, and he looked a bit deflated.

"My apologies." He offered, but I shook my head.

"None are needed. Your family is more compassionate than I could've possibly hoped for. Not only do you share my values, you have actively sought to build a life within a human community. That isn't just rare, it's amazing." I looked down as I spoke, feeling a pang of the loneliness I had endured for centuries.

"Okay, then maybe you could start by letting me know more about you." He said, easily circling back to the point. He was trying to get as much information on me as possible, and failing to read my mind he had to be more circumspect.

"I find joy in small things that most no longer notice. My obsession is with books, performance and art. I spent most of my early life listening to storytellers, then as the artform evolved I went to countless plays, and listened to musicians of every kind. Yet it was the written word that truly grabbed my interest. I remember spending days upon days in the library of Alexandria, before it fell to politics and war. I spend a great deal of time alone as you might have guessed, so I've amassed a substantial library. I have also developed a fondness for movies, it may seem passé, but to see such wonders of imagination moving with such fluidity still boggles my mind, even after close to a century. I've spent time learning nearly every trade and profession, although I haven't kept up on all the advancements." I paused for a moment before continuing.

"Medicine is one field that I've always kept on top of. To heal, especially with my enhanced senses makes it easy to blend in with nearly any culture. I've been everything from a blacksmith to a professor, a scientist and a musician. I speak hundreds of languages, a good deal of which have fallen completely out of use. It is easy to learn when you have unlimited time." I smiled as he eyes went wide, but it was a wistful expression. As much as I had done, and as much as I had learned during my life spread out over millennia, it was a lonely experience.

"I am still a little out of touch with technology though, especially the computer age. I've tried to understand the inner workings of computers. But I lost interest in the college courses I attempted. The technical details felt too foreign, and it felt tedious with nonsensical rules. I do love to fly however, airplanes are a passion of mine, and so are cars. I was bound to my feet or horseback for countless years, and the convenience of being able to traverse a continent in only a few days is such a luxury, albeit an ironic one. I am saddened by the shrinking of the world through the use of technology. It makes some things feel insignificant that shouldn't be." I felt reassured, he held as many interests as the rest of us did. I also hoped that he would be willing to teach us some of his knowledge.

"That definitely answers my question. I completely understand some of your issues with modern life. I was turned during the outbreak of Spanish Influenza, and I'm still adjusting to my cell phone. Rosalie is a car aficionado; she would love to hear you feel the same as her. Emmett loves what everyone else loves, plus sports and gaming and the outdoors. Alice is ever changing, and her interests shift as often as her clothes. But she has always been into fashion and interior design. Esme is our artist, and if she invites you to view her gallery you should take her up on it. Carlisle has devoted his life to medicine, and has a level of control around humans that puts us all to shame… except for Bella. She's a talented writer, and is selfless and…"

"You love her." I guessed.

"Yes. She is my life." He said simply.

"I believe her control and your inability to read her mind is because of her gift, she is a mental shield and a powerful one." He looked shocked, but then nodded as if it explained everything.

"She could block me as a human." He explained, and I felt my eyes widen in surprise.

"That is very unusual, but possible. Do either of her parents display a similar ability to block your gift?" I asked, it was a fascinating prospect to encounter a shield so powerful that it manifested before being turned.

"Not exactly, her father is muffled. I can kind of hear him, but for a long time I thought he was not very smart. I never bothered to look into his mind more in depth until Bella arrived and I was desperate to find any information I could about her." He shook his head, clearly disappointed with himself. I couldn't blame his actions, someone so dependent on a gift like that would feel deeply uncomfortable in the presence of a mind he could not hear.

"Hmm, he could be a shield as well. Maybe not as powerful." I guessed, although more likely it was a different form of shield. "As I've said before, you have quite a family. It will be a pleasure getting to know them. But not tonight, I have a lot of work to do on my house, and I feel that I've already overstepped into your private lives enough for one evening."

He nodded before speaking and gave me a welcoming smile. "Thank you, you're welcome anytime." Then he held out a hand and we shook hands firmly.

I began to walk towards home, when I realized I had to be proactive. I couldn't sit idly by and wait for things to happen. It was a massive change to my usual routine, but I couldn't risk things flying out of control and potentially hurting this coven… or the human that had somehow become important to me. I thought about the entire conversation, and about Angela as I walked but couldn't come to any rational conclusions even as I arrived home.

I spent the rest of the day and into the next figuring out what I needed to do, while doing a token amount of work on the basement drywall. While I kept replaying the entire evening, the thing that I kept returning to was admitting my tangential connection to Angela. How could I have let myself grow fond of a mortal, even from a distance? It was ill considered and potentially disastrous. Yet I couldn't deny I felt something the few times I had seen her, something intangible, something that made my heart ache.

Thursday, September 15, 2005

The next afternoon I set out to the Cullens house again on foot, my latest car barely running. I was halfway there crossing the main highway, when I heard a powerful engine about a mile off racing towards the Cullen house. A split second later there was the sound of screeching tires and I took off at speeds I rarely used. A bright yellow Porsche was careening towards a Semi truck. Alice was at the wheel, her eyes blank and in the passenger seat frantically trying to wake her was Angela.

They had seconds left, and Angela's actions baffled me. She got Alice free from the restraints and pushed her out of the car. Alice's limp body hit the ground and rolled to a stop in the middle of the road. Then Angela slipped into the driver's seat, and tried to stop the car before it was too late, but there was no hope so she closed her eyes, preparing to die.

"No." I heard myself mutter, and launched myself towards the out of control car. I had to time it perfectly or there would be no hope of her survival, but I had to try.

Author's Notes:

Mason is the answer to a question I had when I originally came up with this story. I needed a new protagonist to fit into a very specific role. They had to be able to do something that wasn't canon, and I had to justify why they could do that. They had to have certain characteristics, and have a history with the Volturi, and finally be a potential romantic interest for one of the main characters.

I know some readers are turned off of OC's and I respect that. However, I could not tell this story as I intended without this OC (and a few others down the line). Mason is a complicated character and I will go into details as the story unfolds.

Next Chapter: The Uninvited Guest - Edward

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